Since the days of the unknown folk poets tuning their thoughts and emotions in varied forms, the course of Assamese Poetry remains sturdy and vibrant. That the first ever regional version of the Ramayana was accomplished in Assamese also ascertains the beauty as well as strength of the language still in the 14th century. Indeed, the course of Assamese poetry has been enriched and widened by the magic of these Bhakti poets, but it had to wait up to the threshold of the 20th century to listen to a voice that is really cosmopolitan in spirit and essence. At this juncture we find all those romantic poets who sought inspiration from the West but composed poems with the exact fragrance of the Assamese soil and soul. Of course, it was during the Second World War days that Assamese poetry responded faithfully to the ‘modern’ experience of stark and naked urban realities which reshaped it with search for new subjects as well as techniques well-distanced from those of the romantics. Since then, we have many significant modernist voices contributing in their distinctive ways for making the course of Assamese poetry unique and distinctive in the regional scene of Indian literature.This course is expected to motivate and inspire students to have a systematic knowledge and understanding of the course of Assamese poetry. Besides, as the course has also incorporated in it the selected texts from each significant period, it will enable learners in critical appreciation of the poets, thus leading to the logical estimate of the history of Assamese poetry as well.
Assamese Poetry: From Ancient to Modern Period
IGNOU and Krishna Kanta Handiqui State Open University via Swayam
Overview
Syllabus
Week
Module
Topic
Week 1
Module 1.
Assamese Poetry since the Ancient Period: A Bird’s Eye View
Module 2.
Assamese Folk Poetry-I
Module 3.
Assamese Folk Poetry-II
Week 2
Module 4.
Charyapada: Its Themes, Language & Philosophy
Module 5.
Selected Charyapadas
Module 6.
Charyapada and other Bhakti Literature in Assamese
Week 3
Module 7.
Madhav Kandali: His Times and Contribution
Module 8.
Notes on Kandali’s Translation
Module 9.
Bargeet: Introduction
Week 4
Module 10.
Assamese Romantic Poetry: Background and Features
Module 11.
Chandra Kumar Agarwalla’s Bin-Boragi
Module 12.
Assamese Sonnets: Features and Hemchandra Goswami’s Priyatamar Chithi
Week 5
Module 13.
Prose-Poetry: An Introduction and Jatindra Nath Duwarah’s Prose-Poem
Module 14.
Mysticism in Assamese Poetry: Nalinibala Devi’s Natghar
Module 15.
Assamese Poetry and Rabindranath Tagore
Week 6
Module 16.
Assamese Poetry of the Transition Period
Module 17.
Debakanta Baruah’s Kalangparat Majnisha
Module 18.
Debakanta Baruah as a Poet
Week 7
Module 19.
Modern Poetry: Background and Features
Module 20.
Assamese Modern Poetry: An Introduction
Module 21.
Hem Barua’s Mamatar Chithi
Week 8
Module 22.
Modern Assamese Poetry: Amulya Baruah and Bhabananda Dutta
Module 23.
Amulya Baruah’s Kukur
Module 24.
Bhabananda Dutta’s Rajpath
Week 9
Module 25.
Modern Assamese Poetry and Navakanta Barua
Module 26.
Navakanta Barua’s Eta Premar Padya
Module 27.
Modernity in Nabakanta Baruah’s Poetry
Week 10
Module 28.
Nilamani Phukan and His Poetic Thoughts
Module 29.
Nilamani Phukan’s Muthi Muthikoi Kati
Module 30.
Nilamani Phukan as a Modern Poet
Week 11
Module 31.
Hiren Bhattacharya and His Poetic Contribution: Hiren Bhattacharya’s Lakhimi
Module 32.
Nirmalprabha Bordoloi’s Poetry and her Mormantik
Module 33.
Ajit Barua’s Poetry and his Jengrai 1963
Module 34.
Harekrishna Deka’s Poetry and His Samudrabheeti
Week 12
Module 35.
Sammer Tanti’s Poetry: Kadam Phular Rati
Module 36.
Anubhav Tulasi’s Poetry: Doron Phul
Module 37.
Nilim Kumar’s Poetry: Panit dhou Dhoubor Mas
Taught by
Prof. Pranjit Bora
